Traveling from Oliver, British Columbia to Peace River, Alberta

Oliver, British Columbia to Peace River, Alberta.

We left Oliver in mid April 2020, with the aim of staying overnight in Jasper just over the border in Alberta in the Rockies. The journey involved heading north through the Okanagan, British Columbia. So it was a good test with the RV loaded, being a 5th wheel I found it easier to pull than a travel trailer with more even weight distribution on the front and rear axles on the Ford. This journey was the first time we pulled the trailer with all our worldly possessions. The trip took us over a few mountain passes with about 10 hours in total, allowing for a few stops to take the odd photo, coffee and to check wheels and tyres. When you're towing it pays to plan your trip with plenty of time to complete your journey as bouncing down your typical Alberta road you're going to end up with broken plates and your stuff bouncing everywhere. 

The route we took through the Okanagan and the Rockies to Jasper, BC. When we arrived in Jasper, as we were just there for the night we found some off-street parking and opened the bedroom slide.

Fortunately when all slides are in you can still access the bathroom, the stovetop and the bed. One disadvantage we found with the RV is that the 12 volt batteries that power the lights, slides, leveling jacks and the furnace are only charged when the RV is plugged into the towing vehicle. When we were checking all the functions on the RV we found that the single 12 volt battery was pretty much discharged after extending the slides and setting the auto-leveler, which lowers the four stands and levels the RV. So while on the road we couldn't afford to flatten the battery so we only extended the bedroom slide for the night. Later in Peace River we would eventually add a trickle charger to the battery however this would only charge the battery when plugged into a mains power outlet or connected to a generator.

Trickle charger maintains battery charge

We found that running the lights, furnace would discharge the battery to about fifty percent during the day and recharge overnight. Something that needs to be corrected this coming spring in 2021 is to add an additional battery and solar panel on the roof. While this will not be enough to run the air conditioner it will be sufficient for lights slides and furnace. 

When we reached Jasper  for our overnight stay the temperatures were around 2-3 deg C and out first night of sleeping in the RV. As we didn't unhook the Ford it was just a matter of retracting the bedroom slide a quick coffee and we were on our way. The day's travel we would continue our drive through Rockies to Hinton in Alberta where we would then head North through to Grande Prairie, Alberta.

The route levels out once you are close to Hinton, Alberta. As you head north to Grande Cache, Alberta the terrain changes to rolling undulating hills and rough secondary roads. Grande Prairie was the main stop along the way for a break before the final leg of the journey. 

We had to arrive at the RV park by 8 in the evening to check in and to allow time for RV site staff to show us where the sight that we booked was located. As Peace river is located fairly North that it was daylight until 10pm so setting up late in the evening wasn't going to be an issue. We arrived just after 8pm after going via Rycroft and Grimshaw.

Due to COVID the park was relatively empty when we arrived in March. there are 2 sections to the park the northern side being the newest has smaller wind brakes but is closer to the council park and trout pond. The RV park was mainly inhabited by people working on the new Peace River bridge. While we were there a few families stopped at the park but numbers were down through the peak holiday season. You know people RV here in the winter? Indeed, even with the regions' minus 40 degC winters. People actually do stay here over the winter in Peace River and this park is open all year around but we didn't want to try this for our first winter in our RV.

Yep, that pond is stocked in spring. The layout of the RV park and council park means that this RV park was ideal for pets

One thing we did learn while setting the 5th wheel up was that it can be completed in a relatively short time. Once we backed the trailer into the site set the legs and stabilizer legs, extended the slides, connected power, water and waste water  we were pretty much setup within one hour and we learnt that once you have stopped once inside use caution when opening kitchen cupboards as everything had moved around, thanks Alberta roads.

Home sweet home for the summer at least.

If you're in the Peace River area the Rendez-Vous RV Park is worth a look. 950 Woods Rd, Peace River, AB T8S 1Y9 Phone: (780) 618-1345.